Boot-tree.



1%. 764,285. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

A. G. FITZ.

BOOT TREE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DBO. 29. 1902.

NO' MODEL.

0 Win m \\m mm Mfmzaaaa I //2V/7L O/f" I UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904i 1' PATENT OFFICE,

AMOS Gr. FITZ, OF AUBURN, MAINE.

BOOT-TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 764,285, dated July 5, 1904.

I Application filed December 29, 1902. Serial No. 136,923. (No model.)

To (all whom 712% Tim/y concern.-

Be it known that I, AMos Gr. Frrz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot-Trees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in boot-trees of the type designed to maintain the original and symmetrical shape of boots and shoes. It is constructed upon the general principle of the boot-tree shown and described in Letters Patent to G. H. Stephens, No. 468,006, dated February 2, 1892, but relates to certain special features adapted to make the same readily adjustable to lit boots and shoes of different sizes and to means for more conveniently introducing the tree into the boot and to certain other details of constructionhereinafter more fully set out and described.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making a part of this application, Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved tree shown in position in ashoe. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved tree, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a different style of heel part.

In the drawings shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A represents a fore part, B a heel part, and C a toggle-link pivotally attached at one end to the fore part and at the other end to the heel part, substantially as in the tree of the Stephens patent, before referred to. The fore part is adjusted vertically by providing the end of the toggle-link with a cam D and aseries of pivot-holes E, through any one of which a pivot-pin F is adapted to pass. It will be evident that as the toggle-lever is pushed down into place it will drive the fore part into theshoe and at the same time cause the cam bearing upon the bottom of the shoe to raise the rear end of the fore part to fully stretch and smooth any wrinkles that may be in the upper. In order to compel the top of the fore part throughout its full extent to press with considerable but easy force against the upper, I provide the same with a spring G, which presses the fore part upwardly againstthe upper with a constant tension. This spring may be of any convenient form and be secured to the fore part in any convenient manner, one of which I have illustrated in Fig. 1, which shows a leaf-spring attached at one end to a depression or recess K in the bottom of the fore part near the toe. The spring thence extends rearwardly somewhat in the shape of a bow and passes under the cam on the toggle-lever, so that the cam turns on the spring, and thus obviates the danger of the cam cutting into the bottom of the shoe. I do not limit myself to any particular kind of a spring or to a spring operating in conjunction with the cam; but any spring secured to the fore part which operates to push the top of the tree with yielding pressure against the upper is within the scope and spirit of my invention. and its operation is one specially adapted, however, to use in this connection.

In order to enable the tree to be readily inserted in the shoe, I find it of great assistance to provide the heel part with a handle H, rigidly secur'ed thereto, by means of which the heel partitself can be readily guided into position to be ready to force the fore part home when pressure is applied to the handle, which is thence transmitted to the toggle-link. This handle may be made in any convenient man ner, one form of which I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which shows the heel part formed with a seat I to bear against the rear end of the shoe and a metal arm bent upwardly and forwardly and thence downwardly to its point of pivot with the toggle-link.

In Fig. 3 I have showna handle H inserted in the rear part and projecting upwardly and forwardly in a diagonal direction; but I do not intend hereby to limit myself to the par ticular constructions shown, as any handle formed rigidly with the heel part is within the spirit and scope of my invention. If the The form of spring handle is applied to the toggle-lever, the heel part is free to move at random and is guided to place with great ClliIlCLllliY. I have also shaped seat I, the vertical line of the rear end being straight or slightly concave, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, applied to the end of the shank by means of screw-thread J. This tends to bring the strain largely at the point where the upper is attached to the sole, which is best able to stand it. This method of connecting the parts renders the tree adjustable to fit shoes of different sizes. Other forms of heel-seats may be used, Fig. 3 showing an egg-shaped heel-seat I.

The operation of my improved boot-tree is as follows: The rear end of the toggle-lever is first raised, which shortens the tree. The fore part is then introduced into the toe of the shoe and the heel part into the heel of the shoe, the heel part being operated by means of the rigid handle H or H, the rear end of the toggle-lever being raised, as aforesaid. By pushing down upon the handle the fore part is forced into the shoe at the same time the cam lifts the rear end of the fore part, the spring forcing the fore part against the upper with a yielding tension.

Having thus described my invention andits use, I claim 1. A tree consisting of a fore part, a heel part, a toggle-lever connecting the fore part and heel part and a leaf-spring attached to the under side of the fore part near the toe and extending rearwardly, the end of the togglelever which is attached to the fore part being provided with a cam adapted to bear and turn upon said spring.

2. A tree having a fore part, a heel part and a toggle-lever, one end pivotally, attached to the fore part and the other end pivotally attached to the heel part, the heel part consisting of an arm provided with a heel-seat, said arm extending forwardly and upwardly and then turned back upon itself forming a handle for operating the tree.

3. A tree consisting of a fore part and a heel part, said heel part consisting of a metal rod having an upwardly-projecting handle formed integral therewith by a bend in the rod and a heel-seat adjustably secured to its rear end, and a toggle-link, one end pivotally connected to the fore part and the other end pivotally connected to the heel part.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,in presence of two witnesses, this th day of December, 1902.

AMOS G. FITZ. 

